Beauty without emotions -- Umrao Jaan
Umrao Jaan
Umrao Jaan
Genre: Period
Director: J.P.Dutta
Cast: Aishwarya Rai,
Abhishek Bachchan, Shabana Azmi.
Storyline: It follows the life of courtesan Umrao Jaan who is repeatedly betrayed by men.
Bottomline: Slow,aesthetically-pleasing torture
The defining moment is when someone asks, ``So what do you think of `Umrao Jaan?" Although at first, all you remember is the urge to tear your hair in despair as the lovely Aishwarya Rai as courtesan Umrao Jaan starts yet another song, you can't really write the film off.
The story is based on Urdu novel ``Umrao Jaan Ada" by Mirza Muhammad Hadi Ruswa. It is tempting to make the usual comparisons to the 1981 film by Muzaffar Ali, in which Rekha gave a national award-winning performance as the famed courtesan. But director J.P.Dutta has repeatedly stated that his film is not a remake of the earlier one; rather, it is a translation of the novel to screen. It seems only fair to consider the film on its own.
Dutta shows foresight in casting Ash as the woman who is repeatedly wronged by men. Umrao Jaan is beautiful, famous and unfortunately, the men in her life have the desire to own her. So much like the actor's real life, where she has achieved fame, fortune and is considered the most beautiful woman in the world. And yet, there is the matter of the men she dated.
You'd think that since she's playing someone so close to her real life, there would be real feeling in the performance. But remember, this is a realistic performance, so Aishwarya stays true to her real life character and shows no genuine emotion for most of the film.
She dances like a dream, but her range of emotions is limited. At one point in the film, her character expresses anger at a man who takes advantage of her sexually. Most people would scream hysterically or sob, but our Ash Jaan curls her lip and draws herself back, looking for all the world like a disdainful sparrow whose worms for the day aren't up to the usual standard.
Truth be told, it isn't really Aishwarya's fault. All the characters are a bit lacklustre, even Abhishek Bachchan, who makes a dashing picture as the turbaned Nawab who falls under Umrao Jaan's spell. Except perhaps Shabana as Khanum, who really gets her paan-stained teeth into the role.
The film starts out well enough, as a pleasant story about a pretty girl who undergoes hardships. Life makes it up to her by giving her beautiful things to wear, poetry and many admirers. But when it comes to conflict, there is no impact. The story continues to flow aimlessly, spilling over with jewellery and poetry and music.
It isn't the opulence that is the problem — because anyone who has seen Sanjay Leela Bhansali's `Devdas' should know that it doesn't necessarily interfere with the tale. The magic of cinema is making the audience empathise with the character, no matter how unique the circumstances. `Umrao Jaan' remains a spectacle that does nothing for you, personally.
SUSAN MUTHALALY
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Chennai and Tamil Nadu
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